Nathan Horton undergoes surgery to repair abdominal injury

COLUMBUS, OHIO -- Columbus Blue Jackets forward Nathan Horton underwent surgery this morning to repair an abdominal injury, club General Manager Jarmo Kekalainen announced today. He is expected to be sidelined for approximately six weeks.

Horton, 28, has scored five goals and dished out 14 assists for 19 points in 36 games played this season, his first with the Blue Jackets. The 6-2, 229-pound forward has tallied 203-218-421 and a +54 plus/minus rating in 627 career NHL games with Columbus, Boston and Florida. He was the Panthers’ first pick, third overall, at the 2003 NHL Draft.

A native of Welland, Ontario, Horton signed a seven-year contract with the Jackets on July 5, 2013. He has accumulated five 20-goal seasons, one 30-goal campaign and has registered at least 50 points five times during his ten years in the NHL. In 2011, Horton won the Stanley Cup as a member of the Bruins, tallying 8-9-17 during Boston’s playoff run and scoring the series-clinching goal in both the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals vs. Montreal and the Conference Finals vs. Tampa Bay.

The playoff-bound Blue Jackets return to action tonight when they visit the Tampa Bay Lighting for an Eastern Conference battle. Game time from the Tampa Bay Times Forum is 7:30 p.m. ET. Live coverage on FOX Sports Ohio begins with the Blue Jackets Live pre-game show at 7 p.m. The game will also be broadcast live on the Blue Jackets Radio Network, including flagship station 97.1 The Fan in Columbus, and online at BlueJackets.com.